Train Rides!
Galston Valley Railway welcomes public visitors on the 2nd Sunday of each month.Our next open day is Sunday, 8 December 2024.
Entry is by pre-purchased Entry tickets only.
For detailed conditions, and to book entry tickets, please see our booking page.
Public Days - Dates & Times
We welcome public visitors to the Galston Valley Railway on public running days.
These are on the 2nd Sunday in each month(including Mother's Day, long weekends etc.)
Gates open at 9:30 - rides from 10 am to 3 pm (but we may finish earlier if there are very few people left or the weather turns bad).
Trains run continually throughout the day. We generally have a mix of steam and "diesel" (i.e. petrol or electric) locomotives but on days of a Total Fire Ban this will be limited to "diesel".
We will have our Sausage Sizzle and Canteen open for the public to also enjoy a Sausage Sandwich and Drink.
Our BBQ, Canteen and Ride Tickets all have Card Facilities available.
Wet weather? Our running day will only be cancelled if there is steady rain at Galston in the morning. We will usually run if the weather is showery.
Hot weather. Our running day will also be cancelled if the forecast (for Parramatta) indicates that the day will be 40C or more.
These are on the 2nd Sunday in each month(including Mother's Day, long weekends etc.)
Gates open at 9:30 - rides from 10 am to 3 pm (but we may finish earlier if there are very few people left or the weather turns bad).
Trains run continually throughout the day. We generally have a mix of steam and "diesel" (i.e. petrol or electric) locomotives but on days of a Total Fire Ban this will be limited to "diesel".
We will have our Sausage Sizzle and Canteen open for the public to also enjoy a Sausage Sandwich and Drink.
Our BBQ, Canteen and Ride Tickets all have Card Facilities available.
Wet weather? Our running day will only be cancelled if there is steady rain at Galston in the morning. We will usually run if the weather is showery.
Hot weather. Our running day will also be cancelled if the forecast (for Parramatta) indicates that the day will be 40C or more.
Upcoming Public Running Dates:
(next 12 months)
(next 12 months)
- December 8th 2024
- January 12th 2025
- February 9th 2025
- March 9th 2025
- April 13th 2025
- May 11th 2025
- June 8th 2025
- July 13th 2025
- August 10th 2025
- September 14th 2025
- October 12th 2025
- November 9th 2025
If we have to cancel the open day, a decision will be made by 9:00am on the day.
This web site will have a note at the top of each page.
All pre-purchased ticket holders will be emailed and SMSed to advise as soon as possible.
If you want to get the latest information on the day, please call us on 9653 1630 after 9:00 am, or check our Facebook Page
This web site will have a note at the top of each page.
All pre-purchased ticket holders will be emailed and SMSed to advise as soon as possible.
If you want to get the latest information on the day, please call us on 9653 1630 after 9:00 am, or check our Facebook Page
Please note our safety rules and conditions of entry.
Please note: All train passengers must wear fully enclosed footware - not sandals or thongs!
We suggest you wear older clothes when visiting us.
We cannot be responsible for damage to clothing or personal property caused when visiting our bushland venue and / or riding on trains.
We suggest you wear older clothes when visiting us.
We cannot be responsible for damage to clothing or personal property caused when visiting our bushland venue and / or riding on trains.
Public Days - Fares and Entry Costs
Site Entry Price (Pre-Purchased online)
Please Note: Adult Entry is by Pre-booked Ticket ONLY - Ride Tickets are purchased separately
Ride Tickets (Purchased on site)
Please Note: Rides for toddlers are available only if the child is old enough to sit on a seat, self supported. Babes in arms, or in kapoochis, may not be carried on trains.
Children under 3 years of age must be accompanied by a Ride Ticket holder 18 years or older.
ALL Train Passengers MUST Be Seated and facing forward while riding the trains
Our BBQ, Canteen and Ride Tickets all have Card Facilities available.
We are a non-profit organisation and all our income goes to maintaining and improving our facilities.
We value your support!
We value your support!
Facilities at our site
Our usual facilities on Public Running Days are as follows -
- Picnic tables (sorry - no bookings taken, gates open at 9:30am)
- Sausage Sandwich Stall between 11am and 2pm
- DIY barbeques - these are wood fired (wood supplied) but please bring your own matches, firelighters and BBQ tools etc. The DIY barbeques will be unavailable if there is a total fire ban
- Tap water is available throughout the picnic areas
- Canteen selling tea & coffeee, cold drinks, ice creams & lollies
- Display of small stationary models
- Garden gauge model railway display
- Male & female toilets (sorry - no disabled facilities)
Please note: In the event of a Total Fire Ban, the DIY BBQs will be unavailable and only "diesel" locomotives will be running (no steam). However, our Sausage Sandwich Stall will still be open.
Please note : Our site is a bushland setting and has slopes and steps,
If you bring a pram or stroller, there is a pram ramp to access to the trains and picnic areas,
but you will need to carry it up & down steps to access the bathrooms and canteen.
It is possible to get a wheelchair into the viewing areas,
but you will require our assistance to access the canteen and bathroom areas - please ask for help.
We have no facilities for disabled visitors.
We do not have disabled bathroom facilities.
If you bring a pram or stroller, there is a pram ramp to access to the trains and picnic areas,
but you will need to carry it up & down steps to access the bathrooms and canteen.
It is possible to get a wheelchair into the viewing areas,
but you will require our assistance to access the canteen and bathroom areas - please ask for help.
We have no facilities for disabled visitors.
We do not have disabled bathroom facilities.
Birthday and Other Parties
We are very happy for you to have your birthday party (or other party) on the site
It's an exciting day for the kids (and the adults), and from a train one can see some wonderful cakes!
It's an exciting day for the kids (and the adults), and from a train one can see some wonderful cakes!
To make your day a real success, please consider the following points before you come ...
- Sorry - no alcohol on site. Please see our safety rules and conditions of entry.
- We cannot take bookings for picnic tables - you might like to "reserve" a table by having at least one person get there early to occupy the one table. We'd suggest 9:30 am for this, particularly on a busy day like a fine Sunday in winter. In fairness to other patrons, we ask that you only reserve your group ONE table.
If you are hosting a large party and may need more than one table, please Contact Us.
- There are a few wood-fired BBQs that you are very welcome to use - wood is provided, but you might like to bring some paper, and a match (plus BBQ tools etc).
We also have a Sausage Sandwich Stall, and a Canteen that serves tea/coffee, soft drinks, lollies and ice creams.
- If you're expecting a number of guests, please let them know they have to pre-book their entry tickets, or you can pre-book up to 15 adults per ticket from our booking site.
Please leave a list of Names with the gate attendees and they will direct guests towards your table (if you let them know where you are!).
- For train rides, party organisers often buy a number of tickets at the beginning of the day, enough for a few rides for each child.
Surplus tickets (if any!) can be used on another day.
- If a Total Fire Ban is imposed - always a possibility in the summer - we will not be able to run steam trains (only "diesels"), and the DIY barbecues will be unusable.
- There's always a possibility of bad weather, so a Plan B would be a good idea. See our Dates & Times section for wet weather or very hot weather information.
Please note: All train passengers must wear fully enclosed footware - not sandals or thongs!
We suggest you wear older clothes when visiting us.
We cannot be responsible for damage to clothing or personal property caused when visiting our bushland venue and / or riding on trains.
We suggest you wear older clothes when visiting us.
We cannot be responsible for damage to clothing or personal property caused when visiting our bushland venue and / or riding on trains.
Public Running Days - Safety Rules
To make everyone's day enjoyable (and to satisfy insurance requirements), we have a few basic rules:
- Each person enters the site of Galston Valley Railway at their own risk and are therefore required to assess their own risk prior to entry.
- FULLY ENCLOSED FOOTWARE MUST BE WORN by all passengers (regardless of age) when riding on trains (no sandals or thongs)
- We suggest you wear older clothes when visiting us. We cannot be responsible for damage to clothing or personal property caused when visiting our bushland venue and / or riding on trains.
- Alcohol must not be brought onto the site.
- No Pets (apart from Guide and Assistant Dogs) are allowed on the site of Galston Valley Railway.
- All persons riding the train will require a Ride Ticket or All Day Pass(regardless of age).
Ride Tickets are obtained from the station, prior to the train departing. - Please ensure your All Day Pass is secured tightly to your wrist (or ankle) as NO REFUND or replacement will be given for lost passes.
We reserve the right to refuse train rides to passengers who do not have the wristband securely attached. - All passengers must sit upright, facing forwards at all times. They must keep their feet on the foot boards, keep their arms in and do not reach out, or lean over for photographs
- There is no minimum or maximum age to ride the trains, however all passenger (regardless of age) must be wearing fully enclosed footwear and be able to sit on the seat facing forwards (No babes in carriers or held in arms)
Toddlers must be capable of sitting, self-supported, and keeping their feet on the foot boards (or along side the seats, if they can's reach the boards)
Children 3 years of age and under must be accompanied by a Ride Ticket holder 18 years or older. - Smoking is not permitted on trains.
- No ball games, scooters, skateboards or similar permitted on site
ALL Train Passengers MUST Be Seated and facing forward while riding the trains
